Buster Posey might make 2012 debut for SF Giants on Friday

Buster Posey, who has not played in a game since May 25, might catch “a couple of innings” in Friday’s Cactus League game against Cincinnati at Scottsdale Stadium, manager Bruce Bochy just said. Bochy also said Freddy Sanchez might be the designated hitter in the same game.

The Giants have groomed Posey slowly for game action. He apparently has checked off every box on their list of preparations. The last item on that list was baserunning. When he tried it about 10 days ago, his surgically repaired left ankle did not respond as well as everyone hoped. When he tried again Tuesday, he liked the results.

I asked Bochy if he would use a pinch-hitter for Posey so he would not have to run the bases, and he said no.

“If he can’t hit and run,” Bochy said, “he won’t catch.”

Folks forget that Sanchez has gone nearly as long without playing in a game. He dislocated his shoulder a week after Posey got hurt.

Posey is ahead of Sanchez because he has done everything on both sides of the ball. Today was the first day Sanchez threw across his body from second base to f irst, as he would on a double play after taking a throw from the shortstop. He said it felt fine, but when asked if he could play the field by the end of the week, he said, “I doubt it.”